Independently mounted electronic limited slip device for vehicle

Abstract

A device for use with a vehicle transmission system includes a housing having a clutch provided therein and a first member extending from the housing and configured for coupling to a vehicle differential. The first member includes a generally hollow tube configured to carry a rotatable shaft therein. The device does not include a second member for directly coupling the device to a transmission housing or to the differential.

1. A device for use with a vehicle transmission system comprising:
 a housing having a clutch provided therein; and 
 a first member extending from the housing and configured for direct coupling to a vehicle differential housing, the first member comprising a generally hollow tube configured to carry a rotatable shaft therein; 
 wherein the device does not include a second member for directly coupling the device to a transmission housing or to the differential housing. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is an electronically limited slip device. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured for coupling to a portion of a vehicle engine. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one bracket for coupling the housing to a vehicle engine. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first member extends from the device and is not surrounded by a housing. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the first member is configured to engage a portion of the differential to allow the rotatable shaft to communicate with the differential. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first member includes features that are configured to engage features provided on the differential. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first member is configured to receive a feature of a differential therein. 
     
     
       9. A transmission system for a vehicle comprising:
 a transmission comprising a housing; 
 a differential having a housing; 
 an electronically limited slip device comprising a clutch housing, a clutch provided internal to the clutch housing, and a tubular member extending from the clutch housing; 
 wherein the electronically limited slip device is coupled to the differential housing only by the tubular member and the electronically limited slip device is not directly coupled to the housing of the transmission. 
 
     
     
       10. The transmission system of  claim 9 , wherein the electronically limited slip device does not include a housing surrounding the tubular member. 
     
     
       11. The transmission system of  claim 9 , wherein the clutch housing is configured for coupling to a vehicle engine. 
     
     
       12. The transmission system of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one fastener for coupling the clutch housing to a vehicle engine. 
     
     
       13. The transmission system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one fastener comprises at least one bracket. 
     
     
       14. The transmission system of  claim 9 , wherein a portion of the tubular member is configured to engage a portion of the differential to allow a rotatable shaft provided within the tubular member to communicate with the differential. 
     
     
       15. The transmission system of  claim 9 , wherein the tubular member includes features that are configured to engage features of the differential. 
     
     
       16. The transmission system of  claim 9 , wherein the tubular member is configured to receive a feature of the differential therein. 
     
     
       17. A method for assembling a transmission system for a vehicle comprising:
 providing an electronically limited slip device comprising a clutch housing and a tubular member extending from the clutch housing; 
 attaching the clutch housing to a vehicle engine; and 
 coupling the tubular member to a differential without coupling the tubular member directly to a transmission housing, and without separately coupling the electronically limited slip device to the differential or to the transmission housing. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of coupling the tubular member to the differential comprises mating the tubular member with a feature of the differential. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of attaching the clutch housing to a vehicle engine comprises utilizing at least one fastener to secure the clutch housing to the vehicle engine. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising providing a rotatable shaft within the tubular member and coupling the rotatable shaft to the differential.